Now summer comes, recruiting round The soldiers march, their route unknown, 'Till with surprise himself he found Ent'ring the well-known market town. His heart beat strong with hope and fear; 'Tis market day, and who can tell But father, mother, may be here, And from his hands the drumsticks fell. "Why, what the d-l ails you, Dick ? He spoke. "Dick," cry'd a voice hard -by, It cannot be, and yet it must; He starts, when with an eager cry Right thro' the throng his mother burst. ""Tis my own Dick, my dear lost boy!" And round his neck her arms she threw, And while Dame Winter wept for joy, Her husband near the sergeant drew. "Good Mr Sergeant, let the lad Return with us, and name the sum, You may be sure we shall be glad, To pay you, to replace your drum." All were agreed, alert, and gay; But uncle's silence damp'd his joy, At length, he condescends to say, "You'd better been a cabin boy." "Dear uncle, pray forgive my fault, For it was chance and not my choice, "No, 'twas not choice, but my hard hap, Gay coat, and drum, to go with you. "I was so ignorant a fool, When free I could not find my way, Now, if you'll let me go to school, I promise no more tricks to play." Dame Winter kiss'd his sun-burnt cheek, His father shook him by the hand, And uncle John, when he could speak, Said, "He was welcome safe to land!" SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH POETRY. MR EDITOR, THE following little poems fell lately into my hands, and as I think that they have some merit, you would do a constant reader a great obligation if you would give them a place in your Miscellany. I know them to be the production of a most deserving youth, who, though born a peasant in the upland wilds of Dumfries-shire, and obliged, even in early life, to support himself by the sweat of his brow, has, by dint of perseverance, taught himself English, Latin, and French, and has also acquired a knowledge far from contemptible, even of mathematics and algebra. The author is quite a youth, and although his extreme modesty prevents his worth from being at present known, yet to the eyes of his friends at least, he gives the promise of future distinction; nor are his morals and piety inferior to his genius. Crawwick is a beautiful rivulet which falls into the Nith, a little above Sanquhar, and on the braes of which the author spent his boyhood in tending sheep. Spango is a mountain streamlet, which, by joining the Wanlock, on which are situated the lead mines of Wanlockhead, forms the Crawwick. The e'enin' o' simmer on Spango was closan', An' night on the green wuds o' Crawwick reposan', When Annie retir'd, where the lone wood path lay, To hear the dark mountain stream murmur away. 'Mang wil' dewy flowers her fitsteps war strayan'; Her ringlets war wantonly ower her cheeks playan'; An' save where the breezes war pilferan' kisses, Her white neck was veil'd by her dark yellow tresses; Below, the white faulds o' the cambric were swellan', Concealing a bosom where love had his dwellan'. Ae star twinkl'd bright in the blue silk that bound it, An' spoke o' delight in the heaven beyond it. As through the green woodpath I met her advancing, The thoughts o' her heart frae her dark een were glancing, A blush through the ringlets mine eye could discover, For the hand that I gave was the hand o' her lover. Now simmer flowers o' loveliest hue Lie wallowan' on the lea, An' leaves that lately hang sae green Are joyless all and drear, Where now the wee white-breastit flowers That clad yon dewy braes, Whan last the dewy primrose blew Aneth yon fading tree, walk, First Willie met wi' me, How gaily blum'd luve's fragrant bed Then humid plaivens snawie white Souch waesome through the trees: Ance to this heart sae dear, O happy days o' youthfu luve, An' naething left to my young heart PAISLEY RIOTS. MR EDITOR, Paisley, Oct. 7, 1819. As provincial occurrences are no doubt worthy of your insertion, in proportion to their importance, I have thought it right to send you a detailed account of the riots which took place here in the last month of Sep tember. I am the more anxious to do this, as I look upon your work as a national record of passing events, from which future historians may glean information regarding our character and manners. From the newspapers of the day, such uncertain in telligence is gathered, as to render it extremely difficult to discover what is correct from what is totally unworthy of credit. It was the intention of the radical reformers, as they have of late been called, to hold a meeting at Meikleriggs Muir, on the Saturday previous to that on which the tumult happened. But the day turned out so unfavourable, that it was deemed impracticable to carry through the business for which they were to assemble. A placard was therefore printed and stuck up, encircled with black edges, the insignia, we are told, of mourning, stating that an adjourned meeting would be held on Saturday the 11th of September at Meikleriggs Muir, to take into consideration the conduct of the magistrates of Manchester. As these hand-bills issued by the committee were circulated throughout the country with the most indefatigable industry for twenty miles round, and placarded at the corner of every lane and street in Glasgow, our magistracy, of necessity, foresaw the arrival of an immense concourse of people, and could not fail to apprehend some disagreeable consequences. Anxious for the preservation of the public peace, they took as early an opportunity as possible of counteracting these movements. After exerting all their influence with the reform committee, both in the way of advice and warning, they issued proclamations declaratory of their fears, and their determination to support the laws of the land against all who should dare to infringe them. The committee promised, at the pressing solicitations of the magistrates, to use their efforts to prevent bodies of men from marching to the field in military array with music and banners. What influence they had or did exert, in compliance with these promises and salutary injunctions, I am not able to tell, and never yet heard; but, from the sequel, it would appear that the part of the committee, or they these promises were either violated on had it not in their power to exert their influence to any good purpose. From the complexion of the meeting, I am inclined to believe that the last mentioned circumstance may be the The flower of the white clover, Tri- truth, as I am now well assured that the committee had as little control folium repens. over the different sections as those who were totally uninterested in their procedure. On Saturday, the 11th of September, about one o'clock, after a vast deal of bustle, preparation, and expectation, about twenty or thirty ragged boys made their appearance on our streets with two flags, bearing inscriptions of no seditious tendency. The constabulary force had been assembled at the request of the constituted authorities, and were waiting with these gentlemen at their head, when this contemptible procession was announced. It was followed and huzzaed through the town, as might have been expected, by a great concourse of idle people, who had already begun to collect from all quarters, and made its way to the place of meeting without disturbance. From Nielston and Barhead, villages six and eight miles distant to the south, another but still more formidable procession advanced about the same time. This was preceded by a band of music, which partially guided the movements of the multitude, and two flags, around which they rallied. This body was again joined by another at Carriagehill, in the immediate vicinity of the town, or rather what forms a part of its suburbs, being a continuation of its line of streets in a southern direction. Two flags, with inscriptions, were here also unfurled, while the crowd received a vast accession to its now rapidly increasing numbers. From Kilbarchan and Linwood, two villages to the westward, processions with colours and inscriptions also arrived, bearing along with them all the young, the idle, and the dissipated, forming, of course, a much greater proportion of the throng than those who took any interest in the business. Various estimates have been made of the numbers of this motley assembly of men, women, and children. The most reasonable calculation makes them amount to betwixt five and nine thousand, a number sufficiently alarming of itself, but not comprising one-sixtieth part of the district from which it was most indefatigably collected. This confused multitude, affecting the misapplied name of a deliberative body, passed a set of resolutions, some of thein connected with the immediate object of their meeting; others containing the mere effervescence of ill informed and misguided minds, which were all, however, carried unanimously, and huzzaed without a single word said in opposition to them. A circumstance truly ridiculous interrupted these sage deliberations. A hare happened to be driven from her form by the crowd of reformers, and her flight attracted for a time their attention. In the amusement of the pursuit, they forgot the conduct of the Manchester magistrates, the calamities of the country, and their own sad and unrepresented condition ; while another party, alarmed by the shouts of the huntsmen, called aloud that a regiment of cavalry was just at hand. For a moment the orator who was haranguing them was struck dumb, while one gentleman on the hustings, more daring and intrepid than the rest, having the proud recommendation of recently arriving from Manchester, encouraged the standard-bearers, and those who encircled them, to stand fast by their colours. A speedy intimation, however, of the timidity and flight of the enemy soon quieted their apprehensions. The gentlemen of the committee made their appearance on the hustings, we believe, about three o'clock, and it was twilight ere their proceedings were brought to a close. The party from Glasgow left the field first, closely followed by all the rest now marching in regular procession towards the town, with the full determination of parading the streets with their music and colours. The colours of the advanced party had scarcely reached the market-place, where the magistrates and constables were still in waiting, when amidst the shouts, huzzas, and waving of the flags, the first in order was seized by the provost. The standard was delivered into his hand with the utmost complaisance or terror, while the bearer hastened to hide himself in the tumult which instantaneously succeeded. The second flag was torn to pieces, either by those who carried and surrounded it, or in the efforts made to rescue it from their hands, but such was at this moment the bustle, and consequent uncertainty, that no individual was apprehended or marked out by the constables. All escaped in the affray, and mingled with the multitude. A sudden and unexpected opposition being thus given to the procession, and its line broken in upon by this unlooked for movement, it was for a few moments totally interrupted, and every thing seemed at a stand. After the seizure of the flags was intimated to the columns in the rear, a consultation was held whether they should still continue their march in open defiance of authority, or separate and return home. Fortunately the wiser alternative was adopted, and the sections from Nielston, Barhead, and the other adjacent places, severally divided, turning down the streets that led to their suburbs and villages. It had been well had every thing now remained in this situation, and no farther act of aggression been committed; but the great mass of the multitude still retaining some apparent order, and ranged in lines from four to six deep of men, women, and children, soon began their progress anew. The pavements on either side were crowded with spectators, while an opening was made in the centre for the reformers, who, as they arrived at the market-place, broke away in confusion from each other, and mingled with the rest of the population, now wholly afloat and idle, and therefore inevitably disposed to mischief. Prepared, as were the minds of those who had been attending the meeting, and cheering and encouraging the speakers, who occupied their attention, and filled their heads with the wildest notions about Liberty, Equality, and Universal Suffrage,-the punishments due to tyrants, oppressors, magistrates, and military, and all those who dared to think differently from themselves; for it is remarkable in the very front of their resolutions, they denounced as enemies to the country, and severely deserving the national vengeance, all those who dissented from their data, (a species of tyranny almost unheard of but in the dungeons of the Inquisition,) it was scarcely possible but that some commotion must follow, and more especially as it is now well as certained that the main bodies of those who pretended to have left the town with their flags, had only followed them a little way homeward, and returned to increase the tumult and exasperate their fellows. It was dark before any violence was offered to person or property. The sheriffs and other magistrates were engaged in the examination of those who had been apprehended by the police officers and constables, when stones were thrown at the windows of the Townhall, and fell in different corners of the apartment. This species of warfare continued for an indefinite length of time, the magistrates avoiding interference as long as could well be justified; and it ought not to be forgotten, that, during all this time, the constables remained within doors ready to obey the orders of the constituted authorities so soon as their services should be required. The tumult increasing, and the violence of the rabble breaking out into actions still more insulting and desperate, such as throwing stones at every quiet individual who passed, the constables were at last dispatched to use all their efforts to clear the streets and disperse the multitude. To their expostulations and threatenings the most furious invectives and execrations were returned from the mob, while showers of missile weapons were hurled from all quarters, till hardly an individual who attempted to preserve the public peace of the town, and maintain the authority of the laws, was left uninjured. About ten o'clock, when all hopes of dispersing the people, or overawing their lawless proceedings, were at an end, the Riot Act was read, and a messenger dispatched to Glasgow, a distance of about seven miles, for the aid of a military force. During the three hours which passed before the arrival of a troop of cavalry, the magistrates and the town were in a condition sufficiently alarming. Providentially the rioters did not take all the advantage of the opportunity. The cavalry arrived in haste between twelve and one o'clock on Sun day morning, while the streets were yet full of men and women, and were received with huzzas and cheers of defiance re-echoed from one corner of the town to another. But though not called upon to act, nor even paraded through the streets, a more yielding disposition was soon manifested in all directions, and with more confidence and less exertion, the constables succeeded in dispersing the bands which were now held more loosely together. In less than two hours from the arrival of the hussars all was quiet. On Sunday morning we were early awakened with the confused hum aris ing from a thousand voices. The market-place was again already filled with crowds, unsettled in their looks and motions, and evidently preparing for farther disturbance. Along with a multitude of strange faces, many of them exhibiting evident marks of the sleepless night they had passed, the native inhabitants were thronging in all directions, alike uncertain and undetermined with regard to their future operations. In all that was said or done there was a spirit essentially different from that tranquillity they were accustomed to wear on this day of repose from labour. The morning, however, passed a way without any remarkable occurrence, till the hour when the magistrates assemble to proceed together to church. It was then the spirit of turbulence and disaffection, which had been hitherto smothered, began to burst out in abusive language and insulting conduct. Without the slightest provocation, these gentlemen were hissed and hooted by the younger part of the mob, encouraged by those of riper years, who mingled with them, and were no doubt delighted with this goodly display of the effects of their instruction and example. The same scene was repeated in the afternoon, but, dissatisfied with the little they had yet accomplished, the junior magistrate was escorted home by some hundreds of men and boys, who shouted and huzzaed after him through the streets. As night and darkness approached, the confusion and tumult increased; and the lighting of the lamps was the signal for commencing anew the work of destruction. The main body of the rioters, in advancing up the High Street, assailed the house of a respectable shopkeeper, who was falsely reported to have injured a woman and murdered a child, on the preceding night, in the discharge of his duty as a constable; but, in the heat of their fury, they mistook this gentleman's house, and vented their ill-judged indignation upon the dwelling of another. From thence they proceeded southward to the residence of the magistrate who had been followed home from the place of worship. In their progress thither they attacked several houses, and particularly that of one of the clergymen who had of late render ed himself unpopular by the publication of some opinions regarding the management of the poor, which they deemed obnoxious, and now took the most effectual method of refuting. After fully indulging their revenge, by destroying every pane of glass in the house of the junior magistrate, they hastened to attack that of the late provost, a gentleman far advanced in years, and now sinking under a load of disease and infirmities, who had always been distinguished as a most zealous and popular magistrate. Here, for once, some remaining sense of justice seems to have checked their career. A consultation was held among the ringleaders, who, calling aloud to their fellows to desist, led them away to the dwelling of the senior clergyman, whose house next day exhibited the most disastrous effects of their resentment. Finding no resistance, as the only inmates for the time were some young and timid females, the mob, arming themselves with bars of iron torn from the railing of a Methodist chapel in the immediate neighbourhood, attempted to burst the doors, with the intention, no doubt, of despoiling and rifling the house of its contents, but this, after many fruitless efforts, they found themselves unable to accomplish. From thence they bent their way westward, fell upon the house of a gentleman, which for the time remained unoccupied, as his family as well as himself had all retired to the country, breaking the lamps, and sweeping every thing before them in their destructive course. It was about eight o'clock on this evening when the Riot Act was again read; and the few cavalry that remained, only fifteen in number, with such of the constables as chose to volunteer their services, came forward to quell this tumult, that was spreading dismay to the utmost limits of the town in every direction. For a short time they had to contend, and contend fiercely, with those scattered parties, who fled in all directions at their approach, skulking in cellars, and stairs, and closes, till an opportunity was again afforded of peeping without risk from their loopholes of retreat, and showering their weapons without dread of detection. But even this predatory warfare began to slacken as individuals were picked up here and there, and conveyed to prison in the face of the most violent assemblies of rioters. By ten o'clock the silence of the night was deep and awful, unin |